An attempted bombing, likely by the far right, is hardly reported – a sign of how far liberals have been silenced after Tucson.

It should have been a national story with heavy coverage. The hook, on its face, seems tailor-made for breathless coverage: last week in Spokane, Washington state, a suspected rightwing terrorist attempts to murder multiple parade-goers who are out to celebrate the life of an American hero killed by a rightwing terrorist 43 years ago.

The evidence demonstrates that many on the right have already figured out that they now have greater licence to sow paranoia and call for violence after the Tucson shooting.